UGC demands Uni. non-academic staff cease strike and talk
View(s):The University Grants Commission (UGC) sent a strong message to all protesting non-academic staff to immediately cease from the strike that has continued for 16 days, for discussions. UGC Chairman Prof Mohan de Silva, in a press release, said all strikers should report to work, prior to commencing discussion on their trade union demands.
Internal and external students of almost all State Universities are severely affected by the ongoing strike of the non academics staff of 15 State Universities and 3 Campuses coming under the UGC, which has brought University operations to a standstill. “Exams in March have been postponed indefinitely,” students complained.
Apart from students, Vice Chancellors are severely inconvenienced with their non academic staff not reporting to work for the 16th consecutive day. Last week, apart from the strike, the strikers also held protests opposite all Universities, demanding authorities address their demands with immediate effect.
University Trade Unions Joint Committee head Edward Malwattage said the strike would continue until authorities pay the Monthly Compensatory Allowance (MCA) assured by the then Higher Education & Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella, along with officials from both the Ministry and the UGC.
Among other demands are the Health Insurance scheme and staff related Enrollment process. The Inter-University Students’ Federation and the Universities’ Executive staff pledged to support the strikers in future. The Union said they expect to meet Higher Education Minister Kabir Hashim for a solution to their demands.
The UGC said it held a meeting at the Higher Education Ministry on March 14, and based on the meeting, agreed to sit with the trade unionists, only after they report to work with immediate effect. - NF